7. Sorting Data

PICTURE YOURSELF MAKING YOUR LONG list of names and addresses or products—or anything for that matter—and putting it in order. Putting a list in order accomplishes several goals, including making your list easier to read and use, making it appear more orderly, and giving the content a perceived priority. Of course that priority can change, as the same list can be put in order—or sorted—by any field within the list. Using a list of locations, for example, you can sort by the city or by the state. Or by any of the other fields containing information about each location, such as population or an economic rating. The order is up to you, and Excel 2010 gives you several options for achieving the order you seek.